Surgical glove wrap



2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 25. 1964 Lze K3@ 32 3Q Kle INVENTOR.

ARTHUR J.' LANGDON BY ATTOR N EYS June 8, 1965 A. J. LANGDoN 3,187,987.

SURGICAL GLOVE WRAP Filed Feb. 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ARTHUR J. LANGDON BY MTL- ,arm/L4M ATTORNEYS United States Patent l() s,is7,ss7 SUGICAL GLVE WRAP Arthur I. Langdon, East Hampton, Conn., assigner to Edward Weck t Company, Inc., Long Isiand City, N.Y., a corporation of Deir-aware Filed Feb. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 347,267 5 Claims. (Cl. 229-37) This invention relates tov a glove packaging device and more particularly to a disposable wrapper arrangement for retaining surgical gloves or the like during routine preliminary handling and during sterilization treatment. Thereafter the sterile condition of the gloves and package may be conveniently maintained until such time as they are used.

Although hospital practices are quite varied, the handling of surgeons7 gloves generally involves a Vfirst cleaning after use and sterilization at some time before reuse. The prior art amply illustrates a technique which involves first packaging the clean gloves in a disposable wrapper, usually made of paper, so that gloves may be transported and stored in a convenient manner.

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tion of pockets for holding the gloves. The improved wrapper for surgical gloves is capable of withstanding the heat and/ or pressure required for sterilization in an autoclave, while being adapted to maintain the gloves in a accompanying drawings in which:

At the appropriate time, the packaged gloves are autoclaved or otherwise rendered sterile for surgical use. When needed, the surgeon or aide will open the package in the surgical preparation area. The many advantages of this procedure have been so well established that further discussion of the handling details is unnecessary.

The glove wrapper itself must meet certain minimum specifications; thus the wrapper must provide a package which is easily and simply manipulated, both during packing and when opened for use, and must permit free penetration ofthe sterilizing agent. The packagewhen closed must be capable of being stored in little space `and must permit ready identication to the potential user. During handling the gloves must be maintained thorough- 1y sterile, while the mode of packing must prevent accidental exposure of either or both gloves. Itis self-evident that any disposable article must, for hospital use, also-ilse economical of manufacture and sale. Prior glove wrappers are generally complex in form, and often failed to meet the exacting demands of hospital practice.v

In my prior Patent No. 2,915,173, issued on December Y 1, 1959, I described a useful glove wrapper. This subject application represents an improvement over my aforementioned patent and provides all of the prior advantages together with features which heretofore were unavailable.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide an improved disposable wrapper for surgical gloves capable of holding the gloves during the sterilization process and capable of securely maintaining the gloves in wrapped sterile condition until use;

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved wrapper for surgical gloves that is easily opened for the glove removal when use is contemplated.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved wrap for surgical gloves wherein the package itself retains the gloves and which prevents unwanted slipping when the wrap-is uncovered. u

Yet another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved disposable wrap for a surgical glove that is noted by ease of handling throughout, while being exceedingly economical of manufacture, even in limited production quantities.

In accordance with the concept'of rny invention, an irnproved wrapper for surgical gloves is formed of a single sheet of paper that is divided into four substantially equal, parallel panels by three vertical fold lines. Y The two outermost panels are formed with perforated tear lines for easy access to the gloves while the lower edges of the two central panels have gummed areas enabling the formaspectively.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a paper blank from which a wrap for surgical rubber gloves may be formed in ac.- cordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the wrap formed from the blank of FIG. 1 and shown in its position after the outer panels are folded over and the bottom gummed portion folded up to form the pocket;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the wallet shaped wrap formed from the blank of FIG. l showing an intermediate folding step: y v

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the wrap formed from the blank of FIG. 1 showing the final folded position of the wrap prior to sterilization; and

FIG. 5 isa plan view of the wrap formed from the blank of FIG. 1 showing the gloves in their exposed position, after sterilization, ready for use.

Referring now to FIG. l, it will be seen that my wrap for surgical gloves is, in accordance with my invention, formed of a generally rectangular sheet of paper Iii. The sheet I@ is divided into four approximately equal sections 12, 14, 16 and 13 by three spaced apart vertical fold lines 2?, 22 and 24 with fold line 22 being centered with respect to the opposite parallel edges of sheet 1l), and with the fold lines 2li and 24 being laterally centered between the central fold line 22 and the vertical side edges of sheet It).

The sheet lil forming the blank of FIG. 1 further has a fold line 26 extending laterally to define a lower edge when the gloves are inserted, and an upper parallel fold line 38 spaced a distance away from fold line 26 approximately equal to the length of a surgeons vcuffed rubber glove.

Panel I8 is provided with a tearable perforated line 4(V and atab line 42, the latter of which may be scored or marked for ease in folding. Similarly, panel 12 is provided with a tearable perforated line 4S and a tab line 4d formed in the manner of opposite tab line 42. The areas Briand 36 of outer panels 18 and l2 respectively, which fall below fold line 26 cooperate with gummed portions, as will be described.

Left central panel I4 is provided with a gummed area 28 lying below the fold line 26 while right-central panel 16 is provided with a pair of gummed portions 3i) lying on each side of a blank ungummed central portion 32. It will be noted that panels I2 and 13 are undercut immediately below areas 36 and 34 respectively. This facilitates the sealing process which is to be described.

In forming a wrap for surgical rubber gloves from the single blank sheet Iii described above, the sheet l@ is iirst folded along lines 2Q and 24 so that panels i2 and 1S overlie panels 14 and 16 respectively, while portion 36 of panel 12 overlies area 23 of panel 14 and portion 34 of panel 13 overlies the gummed and blank sections 30, 32 of panel i6. The next folding operation is performed along the entire line 26, which folds the gummed portions 23 and 3d onto the reverse side of panels 12 and 1S re- With the gum in sticky condition, the inner faces of areas 34 and 36 are sealed to the upper portions of gummed areas Z, 30 and 32, while the reverse faces of panels 12 and 18 in the regions immediately above areas 36 and 34 respectively are secured by the lower portions of these gummed areas.

Having thus folded the blank sheet lll, the wrap will now appear as sho-wn in FIG. 2. In this FIG. 2, gloves 40a and 40h have been shown, in outline fashion, inserted between panels lil-16 and 1442 respectively. As will be noted later, the gloves are not actually inserted until the package is completed; however, the glove outlines are illustrated in FlG. 2 to furnish an indication of relative size and position.

The porti-on of perforated line 48 lying immediately below the scored portion 44 may be separated to form a generally triangular tab and in Va similar manner, the like portion of perforated line 46 lying below the scored line 42 may also be separated .to form a second triangulartab. In an arrangement such as this, when the gummed portions 28 and 36 are secured, an open end-ed pocket 32a is formed which may be used for the insertion of a small packet of powder to be used in the customary manner by the wearer of the gloves.

Referring now to FlG. 3, the wrap is then folded down along line 38. In this ligure panels 12, 14, 16 .and l are illustrated in detail las well as the pocket 32a formed by Y the gumrned portions. Y.

eferring now to FIG. 4, the completed wrap is shown, folded along lines 22 and 38, `and ready for use. It should be observed that the wrap may be provided with printed matter S on one or both of the outer surfaces thereof which indicates that the contents of the wrap are surgical gloves, it mayalso indicate glove size as well as any desired instructions or the like. An intere-sting feature which may be u-iltized to good advantage lies in the fact that the printing Sil may ybe of an ink that changes color when subjected to heat during sterilization. In its changed color, the written matter is an excellent, affirmative indication of whether or not the material contained within the wrapper, such as the glove pair, has been sterilized. lIndeed the printed matter on the front panel may state the color for the unsterile condition and the color after sterilization.v

Through the aid of FIGS. l to 4 inclusive, it has been shown how the initial gummed paper blank is formed into a glove wrapper. The .completed glove wrapper is made available for hospitalV use in the form shown in FG. 4. It is at once apparent that the glove wrapper is thus capable of being packaged, shipped and stored in large quantities with minimum space and cost.

. In general, the surgical gloves are packaged in the wrapper shown in FIG. 4 at the hospital by a nurse or aide. For this process, the wrapper of FIG. 4 is rst unfolded, las shown vin FIG. 3, and then further unfolded to the configuration shown in FlG. 2. Here the panels l2 and 18 are lifted and thel gloves inserted ilatin the manner best illustrated in FIG. 2. A small package of glove powder (not shown) may also be inserted in the convenient pocket provided therefor, depending upon the practice of the particular hospital involved.

' The glove wrapper is then rcfolded, first to the condition lshown in FIG. 3 and iin-ally to the closed condition Ashown in FIG. 4. When the wrapping operation is `completed the gloves are not only retained flat, but also, as is self-evident, the gloves are secure-ly positioned in the wrapper under multiple folds of paper in `a manner which precludes accidental exposure or dislodgement. Y

Gloves packaged es in FIG. 4 may be stored permanently with the assurance that they will remain thoroughly clean and dust free. During the sterilization process, the gloves are autoclaved 4within the folded wrapper and are delivered to the surgeon for use in packaged form. The surgeon or aide will then unfold the wrapper, preferably upon a fiat table surface, to the condition shown in FIG. Z. By grasping the two triangular tabs formed beneath the score lines 42 and 414, the panels f2 and lit may be opened tothe condition shown in FIG. 5 by simply further tearing the paper along perforated lines 4e and 48. From FG. 5

i it is clear that this operation exposes the gloves, still securely Iheld within the lowermost pockets, -for use by the surgeon, as required. After use the wrapper is thrown away.

The triangular pull-tabs formed immediately beneath the score lines 42 and 44 may be formed by the partial tearing operation along tear lines 46 and 48y respectively at the time of manufacture. Alternatively these tabs need not be rformed during manufacture but :a suitable instruction may be printed upon the wrapper so that the nurse or aide who first inserts the gloves may perform this intermediate step. :Finally, the tabs need not be formed until the glove package is actually -rst opened after sterilization. Y

As has been mentioned earlier, the formation of a pocket for a glove powder package isoptiona'l. lf a particular hospital does `not wish to prepackage glove powder with each pair of gloves, then the small pocket 32a will not be utilized. Thus under some circumstances it may be desirable to apply gum to the area .7a2 shown in FIG. l. This procedure will entirely eliminate the pocket 32a.

While l have described what is present-ly considered to fbe a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that Vthere are other changes and modications which may be made therein without departing from the inventive concept contained therein. Therefore the appended claims are intended to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit and scopeof my invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A disposable wrap for retaining surgical gloves during and after sterilization comprising, a unitary sheet formed with two substantially equal central sections fold- 'ably joined to each other along .a central fold line and two outer sections foldably joined to said central sections along the edges of said central `sections remote from said central fold, said outer sections being folded over against said central sections to dispose `free outer edges closely adjacent said central -foldg a flap portion along the lower extremities of the two central sections folded over along a' -first transverse fold line and sealed -to the lower outer surface of said two folded over outer sections; tear line Vperforations extending transversely across said outer `sections adjacent the free edges of .said flaps; a second transverse fold line extending across said wrap at righ-t angles to said section fold lines a distance somewhat greater than a glove-length from said Ifiat-sealed end, the free end of the wrap adjacent said second transverse fold line being yfolded Vthereover against the upper outer surface ofk said outer sections, said wrap .being folded along said central `fold line thereby disposing the outer surfaces of said outer sections against each other.

2. A disposable wrap for retaining surgical gloves during and after sterilization comprising, a unitary sheet kformed-with two substantially equal central sections foldably joined to each otheralong a central fold line and two outer sections foldably joined Ato said central sections along the edges of said central sections remote from said central fold, said outer sections being folded'over against said central sections to dispose the free outer edges closely adjacent said central fold; a ap portion along the lower extremities of the twocentral sections folded over along a first transverse fold line and sealed to the lower outer surface of said two folded over outer sections; tear line perforations extending transversely'across said Vouter sections adjacent the free edges of said flaps; means for for1ning pull tabs upon tearing a limited portionrof said tear perforations from said free edges of said outer sections; a second transverse fold` line extending, across said wrap at right angles to said section fold lines a distance somewhat greater than a glove-length from said'flat-sealed end, the free end of the wrap adjacent said second transverse fold line being folded thereover against the upper outer surface of said outer sections, said wrap being folded along said central fold line thereby disposing the outer sections against each other. l

3. A wrap as in claim 1 wherein said Hap portion along the lower extremities of said central sections is gumrned to form said seal.

4. A wrap as in claim 3 wherein said gummed flap portion extends outwardly of said unitary sheet beyond the adjacent edges of said central sections, whereby said gurnmed flap portion forms said seal with both surfaces of outer sections.

5. A wrap as in claim 4 wherein said ap portion is 6 formed with an ungumrned section between gumrned portions thereof, said seal thereby dening a pocket for retaining a package therein.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,908,308V 9/59 Dearholt 206--7 3,005,545 9/ 61 Stanley 206-63.2 3,107,786 9/ 63 Adelman 20G- 63.2

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DISPOSABLE WRAP FOR RETAINING SURGICAL GLOVES DURING AND AFTER STERILIZATION COMPRISING, A UNITARY SHEET FORMED WITH TWO SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL CENTRAL SECTIONS FOLDABLY JOINED TO EACH OTHER ALONG A CENTRAL FOLD LINE AND TWO OUTER SECTIONS FOLDABLY JOINED TO SAID CENTRAL SECTIONS ALONG THE EDGES OF SAID CENTRAL SECTIONS REMOTE FROM SAID CENTRAL FOLD, SAID OUTER SECTIONS BEING FOLDED OVER AGAINST SAID CENTRAL SECTION TO DISPOSE FREE OUTER EDGES CLOSELY ADJACENT SAID CENTRAL FOLD; A FLAP PORTION ALONG THE LOWER EXTREMITIES OF THE TWO CENTRAL SECTIONS FOLDED OVER ALONG A FIRST TRANSVERSE FOLD LINE AND SEALED TO THE LOWER OUTER SURFACE OF SAID TWO FOLDED OVER OUTER SECTIONS; TEAR LINE PERFORATIONS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ACROSS SAID OUTER SECTIONS ADJACENT THE FREE EDGES OF SAID FLAPS; A SECOND TRANSVERSE FOLD LINE EXTENDING ACROSS SAID WRAP AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID SECTION FOLD LINES A DISTANCE SOMEWHAT GREATER THAN A GLOVE-LENGTH FROM SAID FLAT-SEALED END, THE FREE END OF THE WRAP ADJACENT SAID SECOND TRANSVERSE FOLD LINE BEING FOLDED THEREOVER AGAINST THE UPPER OUTER SURFACE OF SAID OUTER SECTIONS, SAID WRAP BEING FOLDED ALONG SAID CENTRAL FOLD LINE THEREBY DISPOSING THE OUTER SURFACES OF SAID OUTER SECTIONS AGAINST EACH OTHER. 